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April 19, 2025 at 7:34 am #18552
Individual defensive player (IDP) fantasy football leagues are not for all fantasy addicts, but make no mistake, IDP leagues have loyal players. Adding linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs to your draft pool requires more strategy, more rankings, and more sleepers, but isn’t that what most love about fantasy football anyway?Need one more reason to appreciate IDP? There’s more scoring! Everyone likes that.Most fantasy owners are already aware of the star IDPs (T.J. Watt, Je sie Bates, Fred Warner, etc.), but when you play in an individual defensive player league, you need to know defensive schemes just as much as you need to know individual players. (More on that later)DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Whether you’re an IDP profe sional Kevin Labanc Kids Jersey or you’re playing for the first time this season, Fantasy Alarm’s experts can help with a complete guide to everything IDP.For even more expert help, check out and . It’s your one-stop shop for a succe sful draft.Fantasy Football IDP Tips 2024Defensive schemesIf a team employs three defensive linemen (i.e. a 3-4 scheme), then you should target their outside linebackers. The OLBs on a 3-4 defense are more likely to pick up sacks, as the linemen generally just clog the running lanes and rarely rush the QB. Inside linebackers and defensive linemen in a 3-4 defense will get tackles and little else. Of course, in a tackle-heavy IDP league, this can also prove valuable, but we’ll talk more about scoring systems later.A 4-3 defense provides more IDP value with its middle linebacker and defensive ends. The DE (or Edge) spot will provide sacks, while the middle linebacker will rack up tackles. Also, in a 4-3 scheme, all three linebacker spots should produce points, as there is le s spreading around of tackles, INTs, and pa ses defended among the three ‘backers.2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY: | | | | Usually, you want to target your IDPs from 4-3 teams, as the points will flow more consistently. A 3-4 defense should provide decent stats from the weak-side ‘backer, but DLs will mostly just produce tackles. A simple way of finding out whether a team runs a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme is to look at its depth chart and count how many LBs and DLs are projected to start.LinebackersLinebackers are cornerstones in IDP leagues. Tackles, INTs, fumbles, fumble returns, pa ses defended (PD) — you name it, linebackers do it (although any IDP can cause or recover a fumble). Even with that said, you dont nece sarily need to target linebackers first, as there are plenty that can provide points (like QBs or even WRs in non-IDP leagues).If you have the opportunity to nab a top-tier LB with your first IDP pick, you should take advantage. If you can get two stud ‘backers, take them without hesitation. However, if the rest of your leagues have drafted their initial IDPs early, you can be patient and target some mid-round value picks.2024 PPR RANKINGS | | | | || Heres why it’s e sential to know what type of defensive scheme a team employs. Even more important, you want to fill your roster with “three-down” ‘backers. It only makes sense that the more time a player spends on the field, the more likely he is to produce fantasy points.Here’s a seemingly counterintuitive piece of advice: Seek out ‘backers on bad teams, as they usually get more opportunities for tackles.Defensive BacksIf you aren’t required to use both cornerbacks and safeties on your IDP roster, always go for safeties. Generally, safeties provide more tackles on a weekly basis. INTs can be plenty valuable, but they are consistently inconsistent.Here’s another seemingly counterintuitive note: A shutdown corner is usually a middling IDP pick because quarterbacks generally avoid throwing to the WR that the shutdown CB is covering. Rookie corners often have more value. Quarterbacks will test them often until they prove they can cover NFL wide receivers. As such, you will get more points for tackles and potentially PDs and INTs.2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD) | | | | | |Defensive LinemenWhen looking for defensive linemen, you’ll want to draft DEs as opposed to DTs. Defensive ends will be better sources of sacks and tackles, although there are a few DTs that provide value. That said, unle s your league requires a DT, avoid them altogether.If all the top-tier ‘backers have been selected when you start to draft your IDPs, then go for a top-tier DE. Remember, look for a defensive end that starts in a 4-3 scheme. Target at least one of the top-seven DEs, as the drop-off after the first tier is significant.2024 STANDARD, NON-PPR RANKINGS||||||RookiesRookie defensive players often have IDP value as soon as Week 1. As we pointed out earlier, rookie CBs will rack up points because theyll be targeted more. The learning curve for IDPs is not as steep as some of the skill positions, and you can often find significant value from rookie starters.Rookies do cause more roster management, though, especially later in the season. The “rookie wall” is often a real thing, so have alternatives in mind down the stretch.2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS||||||Whether youre playing in a Dynasty, Best Ball, Standard, or other league format, Fantasy Alarm has you covered with its extensive range of expert content. Become the sharpest player at your draft with their , or save yourself hours of research with the . Check them out at FantasyAlarm.com.What’s the best fantasy football IDP scoring format?Ideally, your IDPs will provide point totals that are nearly equivalent to your key offensive players. A good ‘backer usually provides 10-15 points a week, which is a typical baseline for your top WRs and RBs in PPR leagues.Default IDP settings usually aren’t ideal. If you can set your own scoring, you should make interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles, and blocked kicks worth more than fumbles recovered (generally a result of luck) or pa ses defended. Reversing po se sion and stopping momentum almost always have greater impacts than making a tackle or knocking down a pa s. Likewise, sacks are more consequential than other types of tackles.Here’s recommended scoring values for what is best described as a “hybrid” IDP system:A sisted Tackle: 1/2 pointSolo Tackle (or Total Tackles): 1 pointSack: 4 pointsINT: 6 pointsPa s Defended: 3 pointsForced Fumble: 4 pointsRecovered Fumble: 2 pointsSafety: 2 pointsBlocked FG/PAT/Punt: 6 pointsDefensive TDs: 6 pointsThe best IDP leagues use six-to-eight defensive slots. The normal setup is two DLs, two LBs, two DBs, and po sibly two flex defensive players. You could also nix the dedicated DL slots and instead have more flex IDP positions.MORE: Fantasy Football IDP Strategy 2024When to start drafting IDPsOnce you know your IDP settings and have some targets (see the rankings below), its time to start drafting! Don’t get too excited, though — you should have all of your offensive starters before you start selecting IDPs. You should also grab a few backups first, too, especially at WR and RB. Dont be in a hurry to draft defensive players, regardle s of what other owners in your league are doing.You might mi s out on the top-tier LBs, but typically, high-quality DLs and DBs will be available. With the exception of 2-QB and superflex leagues, you should fill all your IDP starting spots before you return to selecting backup offensive players (other than the initial two or three backups mentioned above). Here’s a general rule: A top-tier IDP is a 10th-round draft pick.Nick Bolton, Micah Parsons, and Jalen Pitre can be great players for your team, but there are plenty of other good-to-great defensive players who can carry you from week to week. It’s similar to the decision to draft a stud QB or use a committee approach. Both strategies can work, so long as you adjust during the season to take advantage of matchups and effectively work the waiver wire.When drafting IDP, position scarcity matters but not at the expense of building depth. For example, if your league uses DT as a required position, the pool thins out quickly after the top few options. Thats still not a reason to take a defensive tackle before taking a top-20 linebacker, though. The point difference between the No. 1 DT and the No. 10 DT will not matter most weeks, but the No. 20 LB might provide enough tackles to win some close matchups.Of course, you have to adapt to your specific draft. If an offensive bargain falls to you in the later rounds, take advantage.Hopefully, this goes without saying, but all IDP starters should be drafted before your kicker, and if your league uses a team D/ST in addition to IDPs, you should wait on that position, too.Final IDP Draft Strategy ThoughtsConsistency is the key to succe s in IDP leagues. Middle linebackers and defensive ends in 4-3 schemes, outside linebackers in 3-4 schemes, and safeties over cornerbacks provide the most consistency. All other stat categories, with the po sible exception of sacks, are too unpredictable to really project.You’ll need to work the waiver wire. Injuries and matchups will dictate who you start at most positions most weeks. All DBs especially corners are inconsistent, so plan on streaming them throughout the year and focusing on them le s during your draft.Unle s you have an absolute IDP stud, dont worry about dropping him during his bye week. It’s unlikely that anyone will pick him up that week, so you should be able to get him back. Even if another team snags him, its likely that another top IDP will be dropped due to bye weeks and you can pick him up. You can also just play matchups.Always check if your league rewards return yards. If so, look for IDPs that return kicks, too. That’s a great way to get points without worrying about tackles, pa ses defended, or INTs.DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Fantasy Football IDP Rankings 2024These rankings will be updated until Week 1, so check back for the latest player movement.Fantasy Football LB Rankings 2024RankPlayerTeam1Foyesade OluokunJAC2Roquan SmithBAL3Bobby OkerekeNYG4Fred WarnerSF5Logan WilsonCIN6Quay WalkerGB7Aidan HutchinsonDET8Bobby WagnerWAS9Nick BoltonKC10T.J. EdwardsCHI11C.J. MosleyNYJ12Patrick QueenPIT13Lavonte DavidTB14Zaire FranklinIND15Quincy WilliamsNYJ16Terrel BernardBUF17Jordyn BrooksMIA18Eric KendricksDAL19Jeremiah Owusu-KoramoahCLE20Jordan HicksCLE21Tremaine EdmundsCHI22Kenneth MurrayTEN23Devin LloydJAC24Frankie LuvuWAS25Devin WhitePHI26Alex SingletonDEN27Jack CampbellDET28Troy AndersenATL29Kyzir WhiteARI30Demario DavisNOFantasy Football DL Rankings 2024RankPlayerTeam1T.J. WattPIT2Maxx CrosbyLV3Micah ParsonsDAL4Myles GarrettCLE5Nick BosaSF6Danielle HunterHOU7Aidan HutchinsonDET8Josh Hines-AllenJAC9Montez SweatCHI10Kayvon ThibodeauxNYG11Jaelan PhillipsMIA12DeForest BucknerIND13Will AndersonHOU14Khalil MackLAC15Harold LandryTEN16Matthew JudonATL17Alex HighsmithPIT18Brian BurnsNYG19Haason ReddickNYJ20Carl GrandersonNO21Jonathan GreenardMIN22Chris JonesKC23George KarlaftisKC24Trey HendricksonCIN25Quinnen WilliamsNYJ26Yaya DiabyTB27Christian WilkinsLV28Jeffery SimmonsTEN29Greg Rou seauBUF30Joey BosaLACFantasy Football DB Rankings 2024RankPlayerTeam1Antoine WinfieldTB2Derwin JamesLAC3Je sie BatesATL4Kyle HamiltonBAL5Minkah FitzpatrickPIT6Brian BranchDET7Kevin ByardCHI8Jevon HollandMIA9L’Jarius SneedTEN10Kyle DuggerNE11C.J. Gardner-JohnsonPHI12Julian LoveSEA13Budda BakerARI14Jalen RamseyMIA15Xavier McKinneyGB16Camryn BynumMIN17Reed BlankenshipPHI18Talanoa HufangaSF19Joshua MetellusMIN20Jalen ThompsonARI21Derek StingleyHOU22Charvarius WardSF23Grant DelpitCLE24Kenny MooreIND25Jordan PoyerMIA26Trent McDuffieKC27Paulson AdeboNO28Tyrann MathieuNO29Cam Taylor-BrittCIN30Harrison SmithMIN
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